Cardinals designate Caleb Ferguson for assignment after rough stint

The Cardinals announced that left-hander Caleb Ferguson has been designated for assignment, ending a brief and difficult tenure in St. Louis that began when the club acquired him from the Reds at the trade deadline.

Ferguson posted an 8.64 ERA over 8 1/3 innings across nine appearances in a Cardinals uniform, walking eight and striking out nine. The club called up left-hander Brycen Mautz from Triple-A Memphis to take Ferguson's spot on the 26-man roster. Mautz was already on the 40-man, so St. Louis now has a vacancy there.

What happened

Ferguson pitched on three of the last four days, per the club. His most recent outing — one-third of an inning of scoreless work — was just the fourth time in nine games that he had not been charged with at least one earned run since joining the Cardinals.

The club chose to use Ferguson's roster spot on Mautz, a fresher arm from the Memphis rotation. With the trade deadline now passed, Ferguson can move to another organization only if claimed on waivers during the designation-for-assignment process.

Why it matters

The Cardinals acquired Ferguson at the deadline as a left-handed bullpen option, but the veteran never found his footing in St. Louis. His eight walks in 8 1/3 innings — nearly matching his nine strikeouts — pointed to command issues that made him a liability in high-leverage situations.

Mautz gives the club another southpaw option as rosters expand in two days. The Cardinals have a vacancy on the 40-man roster, which provides flexibility for additional moves as September arrives.

Ferguson now enters a seven-day window in which the Cardinals must trade him, release him, or place him on waivers. If he clears waivers, the club can outright him to the minors or release him. If another team claims him, he moves to that organization's 26-man roster.

The designation-for-assignment process is the only route for Ferguson to change teams now that the trade deadline has passed. Clubs may claim players on outright waivers without needing to send anything in return, unlike a trade that requires negotiation and compensation.

The numbers

Ferguson's 8.64 ERA in 8 1/3 innings with St. Louis came with a walk rate that nearly matched his strikeout rate. He allowed at least one earned run in five of his nine appearances.

The Cardinals are 71-72 (.497), third in the NL Central and 17 games back. They sit sixth in the Wild Card race, 4.0 games behind the cut line, and have lost their last game.

Where the club stands

St. Louis is in the midst of a weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Kyle Leahy is the probable starter for Saturday, with Matthew Liberatore set for Sunday against Braxton Ashcraft.

The Cardinals then travel to Los Angeles for a Tuesday series opener at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, where Michael McGreevy is the probable starter opposite Eric Lauer.

With rosters expanding to 28 players on September 1, the Cardinals will have additional flexibility to add arms and position players for the final month. The Mautz call-up and Ferguson designation position the club to make further moves without needing to clear 40-man space first.

The bullpen has been a point of concern down the stretch, and the Ferguson move signals a willingness to make changes even after the deadline. St. Louis sits 4.0 games behind the Wild Card cut line with September beginning in two days, and the front office is evaluating its options for the final month.

The 40-man vacancy created by Ferguson's designation gives the club room to add a player from outside the organization or protect a prospect from the Rule 5 draft without needing to clear space first. That flexibility becomes particularly valuable as the September roster expansion allows teams to carry 28 players on the active roster instead of the 26 permitted through August 31.

What we don't know yet

Whether another club will claim Ferguson on waivers remains to be seen. His struggles in St. Louis may deter interest, but his track record before the trade could appeal to a team looking for left-handed relief depth.

If Ferguson clears waivers, the Cardinals will decide whether to outright him to the minors or release him. The club has not announced a corresponding move for the 40-man vacancy.

The Cardinals have several arms at Triple-A Memphis who could be candidates for September call-ups, and the 40-man vacancy gives the front office room to maneuver without needing to clear space first.

Mautz's role in the bullpen hierarchy has not been specified. The club may use him in lower-leverage situations initially while evaluating his readiness for higher-stakes innings down the stretch.

What to watch

Ferguson's waiver status will be resolved within seven days. If he is claimed, he moves to another organization's active roster. If he clears, the Cardinals will decide his next step.

Mautz's performance in his first stint with the big-league club will determine whether he sticks as rosters expand. The Cardinals have flexibility to add multiple arms and position players beginning September 1, when the active roster limit increases to 28.

The club's bullpen construction for the final month will come into focus over the next week. With the Ferguson roster spot now occupied by Mautz and a 40-man vacancy available, St. Louis can add reinforcements from Memphis or make other moves without needing to clear space first.

The Pirates series continues through Sunday before the Cardinals head west to face the Dodgers. The schedule offers a chance to evaluate Mautz and other bullpen options in a variety of game situations before the final push.

The 40-man vacancy also opens the door for the Cardinals to claim a player off waivers from another organization if an appealing option becomes available during the August waiver period. Teams often make roster adjustments in the final days before September, creating opportunities for clubs with open 40-man spots to add talent without needing to make a corresponding move first.